Stand Firm in Faith and Persevere, An Intro to James – James: Faith & Works, part 1
Did you know that trials can have a purpose? In this message, we learn that while trials and temptations are not sin, they can lead to sin if we don’t stand firm in faith.
We should understand that when temptations and trials do come, we must stand firm in faith and persevere. As we do, we will become mature and lack nothing. The Lord by his Holy Spirit will give us what we need to stand firm in faith.
Stand firm in faith to avoid temptation.
Introduction to James
The book of James is thought to be the earliest New Testament writing dating sometime before A.D. 50. The author of this letter is thought to be James, the half-brother of Jesus and the leader of the church in Jerusalem.
This letter was written to encourage the Jewish Christians who were suffering and experiencing all kinds of trials because of their faith in Christ the Lord. The letter is not written to a specific church or city, but rather it is for believers everywhere. James is instructing and encouraging the believers regarding practical issues about faith and works.
James knew believers, both in his time and down the ages, would need encouragement to keep the faith in the face of personal and corporate suffering.
Remaining faithful when facing strong opposition is not easy and James understood this. By the time this letter was written, Stephen—the first Christian martyr—had already been stoned to death. People were being imprisoned and suffering persecution. Notice whom the letter is written to in James 1:1: “To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations.”
Stand Firm in Faith
James greets his readers and begins his letter with these words:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4, NIV).
James is touching on issues that are common even in today’s society, over 1,900 years later. Trials will come our way and we should not dread them but rejoice and understand that trials have a purpose. James is not saying that we are to go and look for trials. We are not going out to look to be tempted, but we should understand that when temptations and trials do come, we must stand firm in faith and persevere. As we do, we will become mature and lack nothing. The Lord by his Holy Spirit will give us what we need to stand firm in faith.
Temptations will come your way. David gave into temptation when he saw Bathsheba and wanted her even though she was married. Then he attempted to hide his sin with trickery and lies. David even had Uriah, her husband, murdered in his attempt to cover his sin of immorality.
Trials and temptations are not sin. But once you lose sight of the truth that we are to live by faith in Christ; once you take your spiritual eyes off the savior, you will find yourself walking down a road that leads away from faith in Christ and towards sinful passions and selfish desires. When sinful passions and selfish desires line up with temptations and trials, the result is predictable. It turns into sin and spiritual rebellion.
You see, temptation is only a step away from sin and spiritual rebellion if you are not careful.
The enemy of your soul will make the pasture on the other side of the fence look good and enticing.
The enemy of your soul will try to trick you into thinking that on your side of the fence the grass isn’t good enough.
The grass always looks greener on the other side, but once you get on the other side you may find that there is a price to pay that you did not expect.
We have several goats in the back lot. One goat made her way to the other field a few times. She had forced her way through a small hole in the fence. On one occasion she could not get back through to our side of the fence. At first, she could not locate the opening, but after finding the opening in the fence, try what she may, she could not make it back to our side of the fence. I needed to get her and help her through.
On another occasion the goat forced her head through the opening but when she tried to pull her head back out of the fence her horns would get caught in the fence and she could not get out. It must have been several hours later that I noticed the goat laying the ground exhausted for trying to escape. I had to cut the fence to let her escape and then patch the hole.
I say this to illustrate the truth that things may look good, but that temptation can lead to a costly sin if you do not resist and stand firm in faith. If you think you will try something you know is wrong even if it is only once and then be able to stop, you are fooling yourself. If you think that you can handle a temptation to sin, you are only fooling yourself.
Turn away and run from temptation. Endure the testing of your faith and stand firm. Know that the Lord will not allow you to be tested beyond what you are able to endure.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Take time this week to read James. Allow the Holy Spirit to build up your faith and strengthen you so that, when temptations and trials do come, you will endure and grow stronger in faith to face the next trial that comes your way.
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